After two years of a tough market for recreational-vehicle sales, Doug Gauer, of Couler Valley RV in Dubuque, Iowa, has seen some signs of improvement, the Dubuque Telegraph Herald reported.

“This year looks pretty good so far,” said Gauer, who was displaying some RV models at the Big Boy Toy Show at the Five Flags Center Sunday afternoon (Jan. 30).

Gauer and several other tri-state area RV dealers displayed some of their models at the show, which is presented by the Telegraph Herald.

The hard times the industry has dealt with in recent years have been evident at Dubuque-based furniture maker Flexsteel Industries Inc., which reported a 71% drop in sales of RV materials in 2009.

In 2010, Flexsteel’s vehicle seating sales were up, although the commercial sales category as a whole dropped 14% in year-to-year comparisons.

For his part, Gauer thinks the industry has responded well to the difficult market conditions in recent years and doesn’t think that increasing gas prices will take a toll on this year’s potential sales.

Camping and recreational vehicles are a way of life for a lot of families, Gauer said, and they will find a way to keep their traditions going.

“If it is in your blood, it stays in your blood,” he said. “An RV is an investment, something the whole family can do.”

Gauer and his wife, Sue Gauer, own Dubuque-based Couler Valley RV.

This year, Gauer said, people are shopping earlier than in years past. He said RV companies have done a lot to revamp their products in the wake of the recession.

Prices have stayed relatively flat, said Gauer. He added that there is a wide range of prices in the products, which can include anything from small trailers to entire homes and cost anywhere from $6,000 to $300,000.

Dave Brown

Nearby, Dave Brown had two recreational vehicles on display that were priced at $49,000 and $80,000.

Brown, owner of Brown’s Sales and Leasing in Guttenberg and Elkader, said he hasn’t been seeing a lot of early shoppers but is anticipating that more consumers will be buying when the weather warms up.

Gauer and Brown agreed that most of the people at the Big Boy Toy Show Sunday were browsing rather than buying.

Most of the questions Brown fielded dealt with whether his business takes trade-ins, how much the RVs on display could tow, and what the monthly payments would be.

Brown said interest rates are low right now.

Gas prices, which have been blamed for stifling RV sales after spikes in recent years, do not worry Gauer. He sees concern over fuel costs as more psychological than pragmatic.